This book, written primarily for clinicians, effectively summarizes contemporary knowledge of nonspecific ulcerative colitis. A special chapter on pathology, by Dr. Basil C. Morson, succinctly prepares the reader for subsequent discussions of clinical and radiological features, diagnosis, medical therapy, and cancer and other complications. The importance of differentiating Crohn's disease of the colon, ischemic colitis, and other specific colitides is emphasized. The final third of the text is surgically oriented, with chapters on indications for surgery, technique, ileostomy management, results, and complications.
While most of the material is available in other publications, the authors stress advances in the field of inflammatory bowel disease in the past 10 to 15 years. Extensive referencing and the abundant tables and illustrations enhance the usefulness of this book. In the exposition of controversial topics, divergent views usually have been presented candidly. Many gastroenterologists might wish to modify the concluding statement that "for a substantial